Herbalism

Increasing collaboration within the herbal industry will drive the sector forward. That’s one of the goals Holly Johnson, PhD, has in her new role as chief science officer of the American Herbal Products Association.

Turmeric/curcumin continues to be a standout performer in the herbal sector with data from the HerbalGram Herb Market Report for 2016 showing massive growth across both mass and natural retail channels.

The comprehensive properties of adaptogens could lead marketers to overblown claims, but experts familiar with these ingredients say their many benefits really do lend themselves to ‘magic pill’-type language.

With 118% growth in the mass channel and 32% growth in the natural channel, turmeric/curcumin was the stand-out ingredient in 2015, with overall sales for the ingredient exceeding $50 million in mass & natural channels.

More specific training for herbalists as a way to bolster professional bona fides could go a long way toward burnishing the herbal industry’s image with the medical community, though it might not mean as much to consumers, a leader educator says.

A place ought to be found within the regulation of the dietary supplement sector for artisanal herbal companies that might struggle with some of FDA’s more labyrinthine strictures on identity testing, experts say.